What Film to bring for two week Japan travel

[Ted Striker]

Unlike film, processed slides, negatives or prints are not likely to be subject to X-ray damage during repeated airport security inspections.

Chris

Film is very unlikely to be affected by x-ray machines. I have had all kinds of films exposed to all kinds of x-rays. Even Delta 3200 and Portra 800. I never ask for hand checking of film anymore since the results clearly show x-rays do not affect the film.

 

[Rayt]

Film is very unlikely to be affected by x-ray machines. I have had all kinds of films exposed to all kinds of x-rays. Even Delta 3200 and Portra 800. I never ask for hand checking of film anymore since the results clearly show x-rays do not affect the film.

I have the same experience but only with 100 and 200 b/w films. I am worried about the latest 3D scanners though. They are supposed to take over a hundred scans in order to form a 3D image.

 

[Ted Striker]

I have the same experience but only with 100 and 200 b/w films. I am worried about the latest 3D scanners though. They are supposed to take over a hundred scans in order to form a 3D image.

I fly all over the world and have never seen a 3D scanner. No idea what it is and so I am not worried about such things.

 

[Rayt]

I fly all over the world and have never seen a 3D scanner. No idea what it is and so I am not worried about such things.

They look like CT scanners in hospitals with an arch shape and are in use at SFO. You’ll know it when security does not require the traveller to remove the laptop and other items from the carry on into trays.

 

[Chrisx200]

Kodak Portra 400 all the way

 

[maigo]

They look like CT scanners in hospitals with an arch shape and are in use at SFO. You’ll know it when security does not require the traveller to remove the laptop and other items from the carry on into trays.

This PDF describes the explosives detection machine that you are referring to:
https://smithsdetection-scio.com/AssetDownload.aspx?client=1&task=FdZ6hcvRqrNqDFpmLL1VFA==


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[maigo]

What Film to bring for two week Japan travel

Porta 400 plus your fav 400 speed B&W.
Get some Velvia 100 locally in Japan for Hanami if you’re there during Cherry Blossom time.

My family and I visited at late March and early April last year. As I recall the sun set around 1800-1830. Check http://timeanddate.com for local sunrise and sunset for your locations.
Swapping film mid-roll is OK but I always skip a frame when I reload to avoid double-exposure.
Listen and feel carefully for the tension release when rewinding to avoid rolling back into the can. Any photo dev shop can help you get it back out if you make mistake.

When I travelled, before I left I stuck a small approx 1cmx2.5cm sticker directly on every film canister for notes. Use removable labels or if using permanent sticker, do not cover the DX barcode if your camera or film processor or automated.

I also found a small kitchen leftover style box (Maybe 15cmx20cm?) at the dollar store for holding all my films without packing the individual plastic film container.

Think of a system you will follow at end of each day for keeping track of used and unused films, labels, notes and then plan your location and films for tomorrow.
Inspect and clean lenses and filters and pack your photo kit at night, not in the morning.


I took this picture of the film selection at BIC at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. Film department is on the first level below ground.
Most boxes were display only, you take the box to the counter and they check in the fridge for available stock.

https://flic.kr/p/23swG4w

Have fun, smile and say hello to everyone. Japanese people are excellent hosts.

Michael.


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[Carey M]

Bring a few rolls of Gold 200 with you. When in Tokyo, go to Bic Camera Shinjuku or Shibuya and stock up on Gold 200, Super Gold 400 (same as Ultramax 400) or one of the Fuji alternatives, if need be. I've never been there and not find suitable Kodak film for sale.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[aleqx]

So I came back from Japan a few weeks ago, and I really have to say that it was a fun trip. I actually shot most of it on film, and luckily the rolls came back just fine. I brought a few rolls from home and added a few in Tokyo.

I ended up shooting all kinds of film, including Kodak Gold 200, Lomography 400, Fuji Venus 800, Ultramax 400 and Superia 400. Funnily enough it was easier to buy Lomography film than Kodak in Tokyo, which I found surprising.

As for the experience, I really have to say that I enjoyed it a lot. The Canonet QL17 is small enough to have it around your neck for a whole day without it being too heavy. Being a bit limited with my frames I just shot what I found really interesting, which reduced both the unecessary pictures, as well as the time lost while trying to get the "perfect" picture. Also the time spent recharging batteries, making backups etc. was reduced. I have to admit that I used my phone here and there, for when I wanted to take a snap, but didn`t want to waste a frame - for example for a funny poster or a nice meal pic. I was happy to see many other film shooters during my trip, including a Hasselblad 500CM and some dude shooting large format frames of cherry blossom trees. Film is really alive!

The pictures turned out nice enough. A few keepers are in there but of course some didn`t turn out great, and thats ok. Unfortunately I don´t have a film scanner, so I just scanned one print to show here 😉 As a final though I would say that ISO400 is probably the fastest film I need, especially because I can set my camera to ISO800 as a makeshift exposure compensation for night shots. Also the fact that I carry a phone with me softened the anxiety of coming back with possibly no pictures. And last but not least: don´t forget your flash at home, if you bought it just in time for this vacation. Would I do it again? Definately!


Edit: Totaly forgot about my airport experience: I flew from Germany, where the airport security was so young, that she didn`t know what 35mm film rolls were. Her supervisor was kind enough to handcheck the rolls. In Osaka the airport staff was experienced, and they handchecked the film without asking. For my transfer in Amsterdam I had to get all rolls scanned once, as the staff would not hand-check it. Luckily it didn`t have any visible effect on the film, not even for the Fuji 800 film. It helped that I put all rolls in a transparent plastic bag similar to the ones used for liquids, so the staff could immediatly see what they were dealing with.

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

Just to clarify, Gold can be difficult to find. Kodak films though, Ektar, Portra, Tmax, Ektachrome, are super easy to find in Tokyo. I didn't bring a single roll of film the last time I was there...I try to get to Shibuya and Shinjuku a couple of times a year. My last time I did not see any Gold stock...but as usual, boatloads of Kodak, Fuji and Ilford films, along with others.

I always grab a bunch of Fuji Superia Xtra 400 as the price is good and supply plentiful. Sometimes I still notice some stock of Industrial 400 at a slightly better price.

 

[raid]

I would take it easy here and just try to fully enjoy my trip. We went for 6 weeks to Japan manay years ago, and it was a great experience. I had in one pockets a Minox GT and an Olympus XA in the other pocket for daily photos in the streets. My "professional outfit" was a Bessa T with a CV 25/4. Wear good walking shoes and have a light rain coat with you. Buying film over there means 50% less X Ray or Gamma Rays exposure for the film.

Have a great trip.

 

[Ted Striker]

I ended up shooting all kinds of film, including Kodak Gold 200, Lomography 400, Fuji Venus 800, Ultramax 400 and Superia 400. Funnily enough it was easier to buy Lomography film than Kodak in Tokyo, which I found surprising.

You should not have been surprised as this thread specifically warned you that this might happen. I could not for the life of me find ANY Kodak color film the last 2 times I was in Japan. Nothing. Not. A. Single. Roll. And my intention was to shoot the entire trip on Ektar. BIG mistake as there was none to be found.

Kodak has horrible distribution of film these days compared to back in the day. I could not find any Ektar when i was in Rome last too.

 

[Skiff]

Kodak has horrible distribution of film these days compared to back in the day. I could not find any Ektar when i was in Rome last too.

Simply your own fault. In Rome there is the wonderful, film photography only store 'ars-imago'
http://www.ars-imago.com/index.php?language=en
And they offer the full line of Kodak films, too.

 

[aleqx]

It was no issue for me really, as I don’t mind trying whatever I can find. I just did not expect to find so much Lomo film.

 

[Ted Striker]

Simply your own fault. In Rome there is the wonderful, film photography only store 'ars-imago'
http://www.ars-imago.com/index.php?language=en
And they offer the full line of Kodak films, too.

You are incorrect. I went to that store. It's wonderful. I found Superia 400 in 120 size there! Never saw that anywhere else. But when I was there, Kodak was out of stock.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Unless you want to make a large camera store in Tokyo a destination, I would not want to spend a lot of time running around town trying to find film. If you are only going to use 10-15 rolls, take them with you.

 

[Skiff]

You are incorrect. I went to that store. It's wonderful. I found Superia 400 in 120 size there! Never saw that anywhere else. But when I was there, Kodak was out of stock.

I know this store much much better than you. I am a regular customer. I've never experienced there that Kodak film was out of stock. Never.

 

[ptpdprinter]

That you did not see something does not indicate it never happened.

Black swan syndrome.

 

[Ted Striker]

Black swan syndrome.

Well noted!

 

[tunalegs]

I did not have an issue finding Kodak films in Tokyo when I went in 2016.

I did however have a problem finding film in Okinawa. Only Fujifilm consumer grade films were available, and nobody had any 120 of any sort in Naha (my friend even called around a bit, but nada).



I shot most of my 35mm on Agfa Precisa, and my 120 was a mix of Ektar and Fuji 400.



I know the OP has gone and been back already, but I may as well throw my 2 cents in that 100ASA is fast enough for most outdoor situations. I shot most of my photos in Okinawa on Ektar and it was overcast and rainy most of the time. Everything turned out great.


Naha by Berang Berang, on Flickr